Feb
17

Culture Shock or opportunity

Author: moses

I had an awesome stay at Metanomy, and learnt many new things, including innovative ways to adopt to my circumstances. Having travelled before I never suffer culture shock as is suffered conventionally upon my return to sunny Nairobi. But I do miss the tools in Coby's basement and garage! But those are excuses! To the shed for some development!

Jan
23

First Week @Metanomy

Author: moses

It has been a week and I realise I have so much to learn. It is easy to do a few searches, find the hardware and essentially whatever resources you need, but the issue is putting it all together and making it work.

Jan
17

First Two days @ Metanomy Inc

Author: moses

I arrived in Denver on 15th January after a SHORT trip (34 hours only, not much!!)

My host has been most hospitable and I have been welcomed into their home and taken care off. Thanks!

Coby showed me Fort Collins and we got to sit and think about the demo. What's there to think about? A lot! In additional to functionality, we need aesthetics as well (otherwise we would all be driving box shaped cars and that would be the only universally accepted design for a car! :-) ), which of course means careful consideration, although of course this has been our last consideration.

Jan
9

Views of the future

Author: moses

A new year, and the Flying Thing project is in good health :-)

Late last year we (Cameron & I) had a meeting with the Kenya Willdife Service and they indicated their interested in seeing our capabilities. Towards this end I will be making a presentation in early February. This demonstration will help in requirements gathering of what a suitable platform would be, what the expectations are, and to iron out any assumptions we may have made along the way. This will therefore greatly help us to build working platforms for use in conservation.

Nov
11

A short soap opera: The Bixler & the Wind!

Author: moses

Here are some short followup videos on the Bixler!

Someone (Gary, thanks :) ) suggested sloap soaring! Its time to hid advice! After my trials and crushes and success, I beleive the Bixler is the ultimate testing and learning platform.

Though at first intimidating, getting over fear of crushing soon reveals a graceful yet powerful platform from whence to launch all manner of research & experimentation towards the universal goal: HAVING FUN!!

 

Oh, the videos? : 

http://youtu.be/uJ9CncVeHSU

Oct
10

Bixlar Test-bed for the Flying Thing

Author: moses

Finally I have the Bixlar plane from Metanomy! Thanks Team!

Now the challenge: Learning to fly it. It certainly is alittle harder than my usual gliders, which practically fly themselves. This has elaborate control surfaces, an actual radio control (I used to drag the Flying Thing and watch it glide with no need for control), :-) name it!

Aug
5

Lets make a simple air-frame from resin and test autopilot

Author: moses

If plastic an airplane can make, then fabric with fiberglass resin can make a better aircraft!! So here we go!

First I needed a frame to lay the fabric on. Once coated in resign and hardened the fabric will provide sufficient strength on its own, but needs a properly (well, as proper as is possible) formed structure or frame to harden.

So first I made a delta winged with front canard plastic plane, then lined it with fabric. The fabric was fastened with wood glue, then resign applied, and fortified with additional fabric! So here are some pictures.

Jun
14

Autopilot Mounted and ready for flying

Author: moses

Now as I received the ArduMega Pilot, time to assembly and upload firmware!

 

Beautiful board! And does wonders with its sensors too. I cant wait to hook it up to a plane and take it for a spin!

Jun
6

Just received an autopilot board from Metanomy!

Author: moses

After weeks of waiting, I finally received the ArduinoPilot Mega sent by Metanomy. It will need some assembly (minimal), and then it'll be ready to integrate with other electronics (Electronic Speed Control, and others).

Now the project's really taking shape and I look forward to sharing more!

May
26

V-tail glides well

Author: moses

Recently I added a v-tail to the Flying Thing following a crash that left the conventional t-tail smashed! Here are a few photos....

The problem now is testing has become problematic owing to the lack of an engine. I have to tow the Flying Thing and see if it glides. This creates all sorts of issues, for instance when towing the plane moves in all directions owing to poor (or lack thereof) steering. I therefore have to moving the van left to right to steer the plane behind me prior to takeoff. This is risky business!!

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